Clutch.



v 11. (1. 131111111: 11 E. 0. WILLIAMS. CLUTCH. APPLICATION TILED APB.'I, 1909- 999,088. Patented July 25,1911.

M avwcM-toz Q8) 0% 76/01011- 4. 652m mum. (54, m. a. rpm-W 7W- 3 .4, Mame 1.5.

UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

HEB BERT G. BEEDE AND EUGENE C. WW8 0F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

cru'rcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly, 25, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, HERBERT G. Baron. and EUGENE C. WILLIAMS, citizens of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in the count Islan have jointly. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a clutch, or clutch mechanism, for clutching and unclutching two parts or members, one or both of which ma be rotary, so that one part or member will be rotated by theother, or one part or member may be rotated independently of the other.

Our invention consists in certain novel features of construction of our improvements as will be hereinafter fully described. In our improved clutch, or clutch mechanism, we combine with one part or member, a movable piece, which is preferably in the form of a pin or stud, and which is preferably spring-actuated, and is adapted to enter an opening in the other part or. memher, to attach said two members to ether,

. and to cause one member to be rotated y the other member. We combine with the second part or member, which has a longitudinally extendin opening therein within the periphery t ereof, and one or more transverse openings leading into said longitudinall extendin opening, a ball or spaci b ock, which is of the same diameter or t ickness as the wall through which the transverse opening extends; said ball or spacing block is retamed within the transverse open ng by the inner end of the transverse opening being of less diameter than the diameter 0 the ball or spacing block. The ball or spacf ing block is adapted to be moved outwardly in the transverse opening, to cause the inner end of the movable piece or clutch in to be.

moved out of said opening, and cave the two parts or members unclutched.

In the present embodiment ofour improvements, as shown and described herein, one ofthe parts or members 1s shown as a gear which carries the spring actuatedclutch pin, and the other part or member is shown as a shaft or rod on wlnch said gear is loosely mounted an which has one or more transverse o nings therein, to receive the clutch pin. e shaft may be a driven shaft, and the gear a driving gear, or vice versa.

Referring to the drawmgs:-F1gure I is of Providence and Statc of Rhode an end view of a gear, and shaft or rod embodying our improvements, with the unclutching and turning handle shown in Fig.

3 removed, and look ng in the 'direction of arrow a, F1 2. Fig. 2 1s a central vertical direction of arrow 6, same figure, showing the two members clutched together, and, Fig. 3 corres onds to Fig. 2, but shows the members unc utched, and the handle for unclutchlng, and for rotating one member inde endently of the other, in position.

n the accompanying drawing, 1 is a gear, in this instance shown as cored out on one side and havin the hub portion 1, and a boss or extension 1" extending from one side of the hub. The boss or projection 1" has 1n this. instance a central opening 1"" therethrough, extending from the outer end of the boss through one side of the hub, as shown in Fi 2 and 3. i

. A remova 1e cap 2 is secured upon the outer end of the boss 1", in this instance by two screws ,3, extendingloosely through holes in said cap and turning into threaded holes in the boss 1; in this instance there is one holeon each side of the central opening 1"; The screws 3 detachably secure the cap 2 to the outer end of the boss 1".

Extending loosely within the hole 1 is in this instance a pin 4, preferably of cylindrical shape, which has a longitudinal movement in said hole 1". A helically coiled expansion spring 5 extends in this instance within the ole 1", and is compressed between the outer end of the pin 4 and the underside of the cap 2.

In connection with the gear 1 is shown, in this instance a shaft or rod 6, having in this instance the enlar ed end 6' on which is loosely mounted the ub 1' of the gear 1. The enlarged end 6 has, in this instance, the annular outwardly extending lip or flange 6" thereon, WhlCh, with a collar 7,

fast on the shaft 6, in this instance-prevents any longitudinal movement of the gearion the shaft 6. vThe enlarged end 6 of the shaft 6 has in this instance a central axial openin 6" therein, in the direction of the length of the shaft. The outer end of the enlarged part 6 has in this instance a transverse recessed part 6', see Figs. 1 and 2, into V which the central opening 6" leads. A transverse opening 6" leads out, in this instance, from one side of the central opening 6" through the enlarged end 6", forming section, on inc 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the 1, and

an opening from the outer surface of said.

end into the central opening 6'". The openmg 6 is referably 'of cylindrical shape, and of a ittle larger diameter than the openin 1" in the boss 1", and in same vertica plane therewith. The opening 6 at its inner end is of reduced diameter. A ball 8 in this instance or spacing block. fits loosely in the opening 6", in the enlarged part 6- of the shaft 6, and the diameter of the ball 8 corres onds to the length, of the opening 6", the iameter of the opening 6 at its inner end is a little less than the diameter of the ball 8, so that the ball is revented from passing out of said opening, and at the same time the ball is held at the inner end of said 0 ening, and limits the inward movement 0 the s ring-actuated pin 4, as shown in Fig. 2. he ball 8, or spacing block, acts to fill up the transverse o ening in the enlarged end 6' of. the s aft 6, between the outer surface of said enlarged end and the central 0 ening 6" there n when the pin 9' on the andle 9 is inserted into said opening 6-', as shown in Fig. 3, and thus hold the pin 4 in its outward position, and leave the gear 1 free to turn on the enlarged end 6' of the shaft 6, or vice versa.

W e have shown in this instance a handle 9 having a turning knob 10 on 'the'outer end thereof, for engaging and moving the ball 8 outwardly and for rotating in this instance the shaft 6, independentl of the gear 1. The handle 9 has spin 9 thereon with a beveled or cone-shaped inner end 9 and an enlarged, in this instance, squareshouldered part 9". The pin 9 on the handle 9 is adapted to fit loosely into the opening 6" in-the enlarged and 6' of the shaft 6, and the square-shouldered part 9' extends into the transverse recess 6 in the outer end of the enlarged end 6 of the shaft 6, to cause the shaft 6 to turn with the handle 9, throu h the engagement of the square-shoulders part 9 with the transverse recess 6'.

' The operation of our improvements will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The ball 8-is first placed in the openin 6", from the outer end of said 0 nmg, be ore the hub of the gear 1 is lac on the shaft 6, and when it is desire to have the gear and shaft rotate in unison, the gear 1 or the shaft 6 is turned'until the in 4 is in alinement with theopening'6" in the enlarged end 6' of the shaft 6. The pin 4 will then be automatically moved by the spring 5, to carry its inner end into the openin 6 in the'end 6', as. shown in Figs. to attach the ear 1 to the shaft 6. The ball 8 moves to te inner end of the openin 6" and is retained there by the reduced size of said opening at its inner end as shown in Figs. 1, and 2. The rotation 0 either the gear 1, or'the shaft 6, will then causethe rotation of the other part. When it is desired to unclutch or disconnect the gear 1 and the shaft 6, so that either one may be turned independentl of the other, then the pin 9' on the ban e9 is inserted into the central opening 6" in the enlarged end 6' of the shaft 6, nd the engagement of the pin 9' with the ball 8 will move outwardly said ball, and through said ball move outwardly the pin 4, until its outer end is moved out of'the opening 6" in the head 6, the ball 8 being of a diameter corresponding to the length-of the opening 6", or the distance from the periphery of the pin 9.to the outer edge ofthe end 6', as shown in Fig. 3. The pin 9 is inserted into the centra -o ening 6" until the square-shaped part 9 enters into the transverse groove or recess 6' at the outer end of the end 6. Through the knoblO on the handle 9, the handle is turned, and with it .the' shaft 6 insideof the ar 1, or the gear 1 may be rotated on the s aft 6.

In our improved clutch mechanism, the clutch pin is carried on the gear or rotary member, which rotates upon the shaft 6, or other rotary member, and the longitudinal o ning to.- receive the device for moving the c utch pin out of clutch, is located within the outer surface or periphery of the shaft 6, or the inner rotary member, and therefore in order to disengage the clutch pin to unclutch the rotary members, there must be a spacing block or intermediate device be tween the inner end of the clutch pin, and the device inserted into the lon itudinal opening in the shaft, to move the c utch pin out of clutch, and allow either of the two members to rotate independentl It will be understood that t e details of construction of our im rovements may be varied if desired, and t ey may be adapted to be used on different classes of machines in which it is'desired to clutch two parts together, or to unclutch them so that one part'ma be moved independently of the other. nstead of a ball 8, any suitable device as a half ball,- or a pin with a rounded end may be used.

We have shown in the drawing and described herein, a removable handle 9, with a in 9' thereon, as a device or means for movmg the ball 8 outwardly to move outwardly the pin 4- to unclutch the gear 1 from the shaft or rod 6, and turn the shaft or rod 6 independently of the gear 1, but instead of a removable handle 9, an suitable device or means may be used, an said means may be permanently attached to the shaft or rod 6, and adapted to rotate or turn therewith, and be moved out or in, to cause the gear 1 to be clutched to, or unclutched from'the shaft or rod 6, and turn said shaft or rod 6 independently of said gear.

' opening, e

We have shown in the drawing only one ball 8, but two or more balls or devices,

we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with two rotary mem: bers, and means for clutching and unclutching said members, said means comprising a spring-pressed movable piece carried by one member, and the other member having a longitudinal opening within its-periphery, and a transverse opening leading into said longitudinal opening, to receive said nlovable piece, and a spacing device in said transverse opening, intermediate said movable piece and said longitudinal opening, to moveinwardly and allow said movable piece to move into said transverse opening, to clutch said members, and means to move outwardly saidspacing device 'to unclutch said members.

2. The combination with two rotary members, of means for clutching and unclutching said members, said means comprising a spring-pressed movable piece carried by one member, and the other member having a longitudinal opening within its periphery, and a transverse opening leading into said longitudinal opening, and a spacing device in said transverse opening, intermediate said movable piece and said lon itudinal to move inwardly, and a low said movab piece to 'move into said transverse opening, to clutch said members, and means to move outwardl said spacing device to unclutch said mem rs.

3. The combination with two rotary members, and means for clutching and unclutching said members said means comprising a s'prin -actuated pm carried by one member, and t e other member having a longitudinal opening therein within its riphery, and a transverse opening leading mt'o said longitudinal opening, and a spacin device in said transverse openmg,interm late said spring actuated pin and said longitudinal opening, to move ated pin to move into said transverse opening to clutch said members, and means to move outwardiy said spacing device tounolutch said members.

4. The combination with two rotary members, and means for clutching and unclutching said members, said means com rising a spring actuated .pin carried by t e outer member, and the inner member having a lon itudinal opening therein, within its perip cry, and a transverse opening leading mwardly and allow said spring actuinto said longitudinal opening, and a spacmg device. In said-transverse opening to move inwardly and allow said spring actuatedpm to move into said transverse opening to clutch said members, and said spacing device adapted to'be moved outwardly to unclutch saidmembers, and a device to be insertedinto the longitudinal o ning to engage and move outwardly saig spacing device, and with-it said spring actuated-pin, to render said" spring actuated pin i'ioperative.

5. In combination, a gear mounted on a shaft, and as ing actuated pin carried on said ar, an 'having a movement in the direction of its length, said shaft, ha ing a. lon 'tudinal opening therein within its perip cry, and a transverse opening leading into said lon itudinal opening for. the en trance of sai pin, and a spacing piece retained in said transverse openin intermeing, and a movable pin to be inserted mto said longitudinal opening, to engage said spacing piece, and through said spacing plece to 'move said pin to unclutch the gear rom the shaft.

6. The combination with two members, one mounted on the other, of means for clutching and unclutching said members, said means comprising a spring actuated pin carried. by the member mounted on the other member, and said last mentioned member having a lon 'tudinal opening j therein, within its erip cry, and a trans verse .opening lea ing into said longi tudinal opening, to .receive the clutch pm,

and a spacing piece in saidtransverse openiate the clutch pin and said ing, interme lon 'tudinal opening, and means to move sai spacing piece to unclutch the members.

7. The combination with two members,

one mounted on the other, of means for clutching and unclutching said members, said means comprising a spring actuated pin carried by the member mounted on the other member, and said last mentioned mem her having a longitudinal opening therein, within its (peri hery, and a transverse opening of re need diameter at its inner end, leading into said longitudinal opening, to receive the clutch pin, and a spacing piece in said transverse o ning, intermediate the clutch pin and sai longitudinal opening, and means to move said spacing piece tp unclutch the members.

8. In combination, a rotary gear having a boss or projection thereon, and a central opening therethrough, and a longitudinally moving in within said opening, and'a heli gitudinel opening' to the outer surface of spacing device, to cause it to move said pin said shaft, s'aid transverse o ning adapted out of the transverse opening in said shaft, 19 to receivesaid'longitudin y moving pin to unclutch the members. i

- to clutch the members, and a. spacing plece HERBERT G. BEEDE.

within said transverse opening interme'di- EUGENE C. WILLIAMS. ate the inner end of said in amisaid lo'ngi- Witn-=-:-- tudinal opening and a evice for ente'rin Hmmm J. Strrmx,

said longitudinai opening and engaging sai Roam B. CAmn. 

